By Bro. Nikhil Kujur –
Ranchi: The Ranchi Archdiocese continued its works of mercy during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected all sections of society. Today, the fathers, seminarians, and youth of the Ranchi Archdiocese along with Archbishop Felix Toppo SJ and Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas SFX moved over to the Ranchi Railway station area and distributed dry rations to over 100 coolies, cobblers, and other workers at the Ranchi Railway station.
Ranchi Catholic Youth President Kuldeep Tirkey briefed the coolies gathered in the Nazareth Compound about the meaning of the distribution and informed them that this was not a sarkari (government) ration but being done by the Catholic Church because of the generosity of many of its well-wishers.
Bishop Theodore speaking to the beneficiaries underlined how difficult it was in these times when the railway stations are not functioning fully and the trains are running at limited capacity to find work and sustenance for their families. “The catholic church thinks of those in need with love and seeing the dire straits in which the people working at the station find themselves, the Catholic Church decided to provide them with a 15-day ration for their families containing rice, dal (pulses), grams (chickpeas) soya beans and cooking oil. These rations are not simply material benefits but they come to them because of the love taught to us by Jesus Christ,” he said.
Archbishop Felix and Bishop Theodore along with Fr. Sushil Toppo, Fr. Anjelus Ekka, Bro. Nikhil Kujur, Kuldeep Tirkey, Louis Bara, Abhay Tigga along with Sr. Amelia Moras and other sisters of the Nazareth Convent distributed food ration packets to the grateful people who had gathered in the Nazareth Sisters compound.
Earlier, the same group had distributed the ration packets to 50 girls and staff members of the Prem Ashray shelter home. Prem Ashray is operated by the Jaan Foundation in collaboration with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, in one of the buildings of the Catherine Spolding centre in Ranchi. Prem Ashray is a real home to every child who enters it, providing care and protection, psychological support, counselling and assistance with other needs. Most children are reunited with their families after due process and under the direction of the Child Welfare Committee, Ranchi, while some of them are shifted to other homes for extended shelter and support. Archbishop Felix Toppo addressing the girls from the shelter home encouraged them to be strong, courageous and to look forward to their future with hope.
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